Folding monitor stand

ABSTRACT

A monitor stand comprises a first arm for coupling to a first monitor and a second arm for coupling to a second monitor. The first and second arms are coupled to an upper column of the monitor stand. A lower column of the monitor stand supports the upper column. The first arm, the second arm, and the upper column are configured to rotate around a rotation axis offset from a longitudinal center axis of the lower column to fold or unfold the monitor stand between an open and closed position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a folding monitor stand andmore particularly to a folding monitor stand for dual monitors having areduced shipping size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Assembling a monitor on a monitor stand is a very cumbersome andtime-consuming process, particularly in a business environment wherepotentially hundreds or thousands of users require monitors mounted onmonitor stands. As technology has advanced and costs have decreased,multiple monitor configurations have become increasingly popular,further contributing to this cumbersome and time-consuming assemblyprocess. To address this problem, manufacturers have conventionallydelivered monitors pre-assembled on monitor stands. However, deliveringmonitors pre-assembled on monitor stands requires large shipping boxes,resulting in high shipping costs and a large carbon footprint.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a monitor stand includes afirst arm for coupling to a first monitor and a second arm for couplingto a second monitor. The first and second arms are coupled to an uppercolumn of the monitor stand. A lower column of the monitor standsupports the upper column. The first and second monitor may includemonitor legs that interfere with each other when rotated around alongitudinal center axis of the upper and lower columns. Advantageously,the first arm, the second arm, and the upper column are configured torotate around a rotation axis offset from the longitudinal center axisof the upper and lower columns to fold or unfold the monitor standbetween an open and closed position. In this manner, the monitor standmay be folded without the monitor legs interfering with each other. Themonitor stand may therefore be shipped with the monitors pre-assembledon the monitor stand in a relatively small shipping package.

In one or more embodiments, the monitor stand is locked by lowering acap of the monitor stand, thereby causing a skirt plate of the uppercolumn to be lowered. The cap is in physical communication with theskirt plate via a link rod. The skirt plate is supported by a springcoupled to the retainer of the lower column. Lowering the skirt platecauses the spring to compress, allowing the skirt plate to lower to alowered position into a lower retainer of the upper column. Lowering theskirt plate thereby causes a first lock pin to lower into a specific oneof a plurality of lock holes of the retainer of the lower column thuspreventing the rotation of the first arm, the second arm, and the uppercolumn. The specific one of the plurality of lock holes may be differentwhen the monitor stand is in an open position and closed position. Inone embodiment, when the monitor stand is in the opened position and theskirt plate is in the lowered position, a second lock pin engages aparticular one of the plurality of lock holes of the retainer thuspreventing the rotation of the first arm, the second arm, and the uppercolumn. When the monitor stand is in the closed position and the skirtplate is in the lowered position, the second lock pin does not engageany of the plurality of lock holes of the retainer.

In one or more embodiments, the monitor stand is similarly unlocked byraising the cap, thereby causing the skirt plate, and thus the firstlock pin, to raise from the specific one of the plurality of lock holesto allow rotation of the first arm, the second arm, and the uppercolumn.

In one or more embodiments, the lower column of the monitor standincludes a retainer having a track. The second arm is coupled to thetrack such that rotation of the second arm is defined by the track. Therotation of the second arm when folding or unfolding the monitor standis greater than 90 degrees and the rotation of the first arm and theupper column is greater than 270 degrees. The lower column does notrotate while folding or unfolding the monitor stand.

In one or more embodiments, the upper column comprises an upper retainercoupled to the second arm by a top offset bolt and a lower retainercoupled to the second arm by a bottom offset bolt. The top and bottomoffset bolts define the rotation axis.

These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows perspective view of a monitor stand in an open or in useposition, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 2A shows a monitor stand in an open position, in accordance withone embodiment;

FIG. 2B shows a monitor stand in an intermediate, in rotation position,at the point when a first arm meets a second arm, in accordance with oneembodiment;

FIG. 2C shows a monitor stand in a closed position, in accordance withone embodiment;

FIG. 3A shows a top down view of a monitor stand in a closed position,in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 3B shows a detailed view of portion A of a monitor stand, asidentified in FIG. 3A, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 4A shows an unlocked monitor stand in an open position with upperand lower columns removed, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 4B shows a locked monitor stand in an open position with upper andlower columns removed, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 4C shows an exploded view of the components of a monitor stand inan open position, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 4D shows a detailed view of portion B of a monitor stand, asidentified in FIG. 4C, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 5A shows a locked monitor stand in closed position with upper andlower columns removed, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 5B shows an exploded view of the components of a monitor stand in aclosed position, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 5C shows a detailed view of portion C of a monitor stand, asidentified in FIG. 5B, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 6A shows a top down view of a monitor stand in an open positionidentifying cross-sectional plane Z-Z, in accordance with oneembodiment;

FIG. 6B shows a cross-section view of the monitor stand shown in FIG. 6Ain a locked configuration at plane Z-Z, in accordance with oneembodiment;

FIG. 6C shows a detailed view of portion D of a monitor stand, asidentified in FIG. 6B, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 6D shows a cross-sectional view of the monitor stand shown in FIG.6A in an unlocked configuration at plane Z-Z, in accordance with oneembodiment;

FIG. 6E shows a detailed view of portion E of a monitor stand, asidentified in FIG. 6D, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 7A shows a top down view of a locked monitor stand in a closedposition identifying cross-sectional plane Y-Y, in accordance with oneembodiment;

FIG. 7B shows a cross-section view of the monitor stand shown in FIG. 7Aat plane Y-Y, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 7C shows a detailed view of portion F of a monitor stand, asidentified in FIG. 7B, in accordance with one embodiment; and

FIG. 8 shows a method for folding or unfolding a monitor stand, inaccordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a folding monitor stand 100 in anopen or in use position, in accordance with one or more embodiments.Monitor stand 100 mounts monitors 102-A and 102-B (collectively referredto as monitors 102) for use by a user. Monitors 102 may be mounted onmonitor stand 100 using any suitable mounting interface. In anembodiment shown in FIG. 1, monitors 102-A and 102-B are mounted tomonitor stand 100 via support holes 105-A and 105-B (collectivelyreferred to as support holes 105) and monitor legs 104-A and 104-B(collectively referred to as monitor legs 104), respectively. Monitorlegs 104 allow monitors 102 to tilt vertically to a desired position.Other mounting interfaces may also be employed, such as, e.g., the VESA(video electronics standards association) mounting interface standard.

Monitors 102-A and 102-B mount to first arm 106 and second arm 108 ofmonitor stand 100, respectively. First arm 106 and second arm 108 aresupported by upper column 110 and lower column 112 of monitor stand 100.Lower column 112 of monitor stand 100 is coupled to base 114 forsupporting the load of monitors 102. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 1,base 114 is a desktop base configured to sit on top of a desk or othersurface. However, it should be understood that base 114 may be anysuitable base for supporting monitors 102, such as, e.g., a clamp, agrommet, a wall mount, etc.

Cap 116 is secured to upper column 110 using magnets or any othersuitable coupling device for covering an open end of the upper column110. Raising cap 116 unlocks monitor stand 100 to allow components ofmonitor stand 100 to rotate between the open (or in use) position shownin FIG. 1 and a closed (or shipping) position. Lowering cap 116 locksmonitor stand 100 to prevent the components of monitor stand 100 fromrotating once in the open or closed position. The locking and unlockingof monitor stand 100 is described in more detail below.

FIGS. 2A-2C show the rotation of the components of monitor stand 100 asmonitor stand 100 folds from an open position to a closed position, inaccordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2A shows monitor stand 100 in an open position. Cap 116 is raisedto unlock monitor stand 100, allowing components of monitor stand 100 torotate to fold monitor stand 100 to the closed position. First arm 106and upper column 110 rotate about or around a rotation axis in direction116 (i.e., in the counterclockwise direction when viewing monitor stand100 from the top down). The rotation axis is along the longitudinal axisof lower column 112 (and upper column 110 when monitor stand 100 is inthe open position). The rotation axis is offset from the longitudinalcenter axis of upper column 110 and lower column 112. The longitudinalcenter axis is the longitudinal axis of upper column 110 and lowercolumn 112 at the center of the lateral surface of upper column 110 andlower column 112 (i.e., the center of the cylindrical base of uppercolumn 110 and lower column 112) in the normal direction. Lower column112 does not rotate. In one embodiment, first arm 106 and upper column110 are rotated until first arm 106 meets second arm 108, as shown inFIGS. 2A-2C. FIG. 2B shows monitor stand 100 in an intermediate, inrotation position, at the point when first arm 106 meets second arm 108.Rotation of first arm 106, second arm 108, and upper column 110 proceedsin a direction 118 until monitor stand 100 reaches the closed position.

FIG. 2C shows monitor stand 100 in the closed position. Cap 116 islowered to lock monitor stand 100, preventing the components of monitorstand 100 from rotating to unfold monitors stand 100 to the openposition. Advantageously, the offset rotation of monitor stand 100allows monitor stand 100 to be folded to a closed position withoutmonitor legs 104 interfering with each other to provide a reducedshipping size resulting in lower shipping costs and a smaller carbonfootprint. Monitor stand 100 folded to a closed position without monitorlegs 104 interfering with each other is further discussed below withrespect to FIG. 3A.

While FIGS. 2A-2C show an initial rotation of first arm 106 and uppercolumn 110 followed by a further rotation of first arm 106, second arm108, and upper column 110, it should be understood that monitor stand100 may fold from the open position to the closed position using anysuitable rotational configuration. For example, in one embodiment, firstarm 106, second arm 108, and upper column 110 initially rotate togetheruntil second arm 108 reaches its closed position. First arm 106 andupper column 110 then continue to rotate to their closed position tofold monitor stand 100. The rotation of second arm 108 in this mannerimproves stability of monitor stand 100 by helping to prevent tipping ofmonitor stand 100. It should be understood that the components ofmonitor stand 100 may rotated in the reverse order as shown in FIGS.2A-2C when monitor stand 100 is unfolded from the closed position shownin FIG. 2C to the open position shown in FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show top down views of monitor stand 100 in the closedposition, in accordance with one or more embodiments. A detailed view ofportion A of monitor stand 100 identified in FIG. 3A is shown in FIG.3B. Monitor stand 100 in FIGS. 3A and 3B folds to the closed position inaccordance with the rotation of components shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. Asmonitor stand 100 folds to the closed position, first arm 106, secondarm 108, and upper column 110 rotate about rotation axis 122. In oneembodiment, second arm 108 rotates about rotation axis 122 (from theposition shown in FIG. 2B to the position shown in FIG. 2C) by angle ofrotation 128. Rotation axis 122 is along the longitudinal axis of lowercolumn 112 (and upper column 110 when monitor stand 100 is in the openposition). In one embodiment, angle of rotation 128 is 103 degrees tothereby place monitors 102 over the center of base 114 to provide asmaller packaging volume. However, angle of rotation 128 may be anysuitable value.

Rotation axis 122 is offset from center axis 120. Center axis 120 is thelongitudinal center axis of upper column 110 and lower column 112.Rotation axis 122 and center axis 120 are shown in FIG. 3B in the normaldirection. Rotation axis 122 is offset from center axis 120 on a surfacenormal to the longitudinal axis in accordance with an X-offset 124 andY-offset 126. In one embodiment, X-offset 124 is 0.685 inches andY-offset 126 is 0.5 inches. It should be understood that X-offset 124and Y-offset 126 may be any suitable value. By offsetting rotation axis122 from center axis 120, monitor stand 100 may be folded to a closedposition without monitor legs 104 interfering with each other, as shownin FIG. 3A, thereby resulting in a reduced shipping size.

FIGS. 4A-4D show monitor stand 100 in the open position with uppercolumn 110 and lower column 112 removed in order to better illustratethe internal components of monitor stand 100, in accordance with one ormore embodiments. FIG. 4A shows monitor stand 100 in the lockedconfiguration. Raising cap 116 unlocks monitor stand 100 to allow forrotation of components of monitor stand 100. FIG. 4B shows monitor stand100 in the unlocked configuration. Lowering cap 116 locks monitor stand100 to prevent rotation of components of monitor stand 100. FIG. 4Cshows an exploded view of the internal components of monitor stand 100while in the open position. FIG. 4D shows a detailed view of portion B,identified in FIG. 4C.

With reference to FIGS. 4A-4D, internal components of monitor stand 100are shown. Components of upper column 110 include link rod 134, skirtplate 136, first lock pin 140, second lock pin 142, and lower retainer146. Components of lower column 112 include retainer 152.

Upper portions of first arm 106 are coupled to upper retainer 132 ofupper column 110 via a coupling device through holes 160-A of upperretainer 132 and holes 160-B of first arm 106. The coupling device maybe any suitable coupling device, such as, e.g., bolts or screws. Lowerportions of first arm 106 are coupled to lower retainer 146 of uppercolumn 110 via a coupling device through holes 160-C of lower retainer146 to upper column 110 and holes 160-D of first arm 106.

Upper portions of second arm 108 are coupled to upper retainer 132 viatop offset bolt 130 through hole 162-A of upper retainer 132 and hole162-B through second arm 108. Lower portions of second arm 108 arecoupled to lower retainer 146 of upper column 110 and retainer 150 oflower column 112 via bottom offset bolt 152 through hole 162-C ofretainer 150, hole 162-D through second arm 108, and hole 162-E throughlower retainer 146. Second arm 108 is further coupled to retainer 150 oflower column 112 via a coupling device though track 164-A of retainer150 and hole 164-B through second arm 108.

During the folding of monitor stand 100, first arm 106, second arm 108,and upper column 110 rotate around rotation axis 122 (FIG. 3B). Rotationaxis 122 is defined by top offset bolt 130 and bottom offset bolt 152.Upper column 110 is only directly coupled to retainer 150 of lowercolumn 112 by bottom offset bolt 152, allowing first arm 106, second arm108, and upper column 110 to rotate around rotation axis 122 offset fromlongitudinal center axis 120. Bottom offset bolt 152 is directly coupledto lower retainer 146 and hole 162-E, and rotates within retainer 150 oflower column 112. Top offset bolt 130 acts as a support to verticallyalign second arm 108. Due to the coupling of second arm 108 with track164-A (via a coupling device through hole 164-B), track 164-A limits therotation of second arm 108 to define angle of rotation 128.

Monitor stand 100 is placed in the locked configuration, as shown inFIG. 4A, by lowering cap 116. Cap 116 is coupled to (e.g., via magnets,screws, etc.) an upper end of link rod 134 through center hole 154-A ofupper retainer 132, as shown in FIG. 4C. A lower end of link rod 134 iscoupled to receiving hole 154-B of skirt plate 136. Skirt plate 136 iscoupled to first lock pin 140 via receiving hole 156-A and second lockpin 142 via receiving hole 158-A. Skirt plate 136 is held above lowerretainer 146 via spring 144, which is coupled to lower retainer 146 byscrew 148. By lowering cap 116 (to place monitor stand 100 in the lockedconfiguration), skirt plate 136 is lowered (via link rod 134) from araised position to a lowered position to fit within lower retainer 146by compressing spring 144. Lowering skirt plate 136 allows first lockpin 140 to engage lock hole 156-D of retainer 150 and second lock pin142 to engage lock hole 158-C of retainer 150, thereby preventingrotation of monitor stand 100.

In one embodiment, cap 116 includes a cap stop to limit how much cap 116may be raised and lowered. In one embodiment, the surface of upperretainer 132 acts as the cap stop to limit travel of cap 116. Once cap116 is lowered, the cap stop may be engaged to prevent cap 116 frombeing raised due to the compressive force of spring 144.

Monitor stand 100 is placed in the unlocked configuration, as shown inFIG. 4B, by raising cap 116 to thereby raise skirt plate 136 (via linkrod 134). Skirt plate 136 is held above lower retainer 146 by spring144. In one embodiment, spring 144 provides sufficient force to holdskirt plate 136 at a height such that first lock pin 140 does not engagelock hole 156-D of retainer 150 but remains engaged with locks holes156-B and 156-C and second lock pin 142 does not engage lock hole 158-Cof retainer 150 but remains engaged with lock hole 158-B. In thismanner, raising skirt plate 136 allows rotation of monitor stand 100. Inone embodiment, spring 144 is at its resting position when monitor stand100 is in the unlocked configuration. In another embodiment, spring 144is held in a semi-compressed state by the cap stop when monitor stand100 is in the unlocked configuration.

FIGS. 5A-5C show monitor stand 100 in the closed position with uppercolumn 110 and lower column 112 removed in order to better illustratethe internal components of monitor stand 100, in accordance with one ormore embodiments. FIG. 5A shows monitor stand 100 in the lockedconfiguration. FIG. 5B shows an exploded view of the internal componentsof monitor stand 100 while in the closed position. FIG. 5C shows adetailed view of portion C, identified in FIG. 5B.

With reference to FIGS. 5A-5C, monitor stand 100 may be locked andunlocked while in the closed position by lowering and raising cap 116,respectively. Similar to monitor stand 100 in the open position (FIGS.4A-4D), monitor stand 100 in the closed position shown in FIGS. 5A-5C islocked by lowering cap 116, thereby lowering skirt plate 136 (via linkrod 134) and engaging first lock pin 140 with one of the lock holes inlower retainer 150. However, due to the rotation of the components ofupper column 110 while retainer 150 of lower column 112 remainsstationary, rather than first lock pin 140 engaging lock hole 156-D ofretainer 150 as when monitor stand 100 is in the open position, firstlock pin 140 instead engages lock hole 156-E. Second lock pin 142 doesnot engage any of the lock holes in retainer 150 in the closed position.

FIG. 6A shows a top down view of monitor stand 100 in the open position,in accordance with one or more embodiments. Cross-sectional plane Z-Z ofmonitor stand 100 is identified in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6B shows a cross-sectional view of the monitor stand 100 shown inFIG. 6A in a locked configuration at plane Z-Z, in accordance with oneor more embodiments. FIG. 6C shows a detailed view of portion D,identified in FIG. 6B. As shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, cap 116 is loweredto place monitor stand 100 in the locked configuration by lowering skirtplate 136 within lower retainer 146 and thereby engaging first lock pin140 with hole 156-D of retainer 150 of lower column 112. First lock pin140 engaged with hole 156-D of retainer 150 prevents rotation of thecomponents of upper column 110. Second lock pin 142 is similarly engagedwith hole 158-C (not shown in FIGS. 6D and 6E).

FIG. 6D shows a cross-sectional view of the monitor stand 100 shown inFIG. 6A in an unlocked configuration at plane Z-Z, in accordance withone or more embodiments. FIG. 6E shows a detailed view of portion E,identified in FIG. 6D. As shown in FIGS. 6D and 6E, cap 116 is raised toplace monitor stand 100 in the unlocked configuration by raising skirtplate 136 above lower retainer 146 to thereby disengage first lock pin144 with hole 156-D of retainer 150 of lower column 112. First lock pin140 disengaged with hole 156-D of retainer 150 allows rotation of thecomponents of upper column 110, while remaining engaged with hole 156-Bof lower retainer 146 and hole 156-C of first arm 106 to allow rotationof these components of upper column 110 together. Second lock pin 142 issimilarly disengaged with hole 158-C (not shown in FIGS. 6D and 6E).

FIG. 7A shows a top down view of monitor stand 100 in a closed positionand locked configuration, in accordance with one or more embodiments.Cross-sectional plane Y-Y of monitor stand 100 is identified in FIG. 7A.FIG. 7B shows a cross-sectional view of the monitor stand 100 shown inFIG. 7A at plane Y-Y. FIG. 7C shows a detailed view of portion F,identified in FIG. 7B. As shown in FIGS. 7A-7C, monitor stand 100 is ina closed position with cap 116 lowered to lock monitor stand 100.Lowering cap 116 lowers skirt plate 136 at least partly within lowerretainer 146 to thereby engage first lock pin 140 with hole 156-D ofretainer 150 of lower column 112. First lock pin 140 engaged with hole156-D of retainer 150 prevents rotation of the components of uppercolumn 110. Second lock pin 142 does not engage any of the lock holes ofretainer 150 when monitor stand 100 is in the closed position.

Advantageously, embodiments of monitor stand 100 described hereinprovide for rotation axis 120 of monitor stand 100 offset from thecenter axis 120, allowing monitor stand 100 to be folded with monitors102 to a closed position without monitor legs 104 interfering with eachother. In this manner, monitor stand 100 may be shipped with a reducedshipping size, lowering shipping costs and reducing its carbonfootprint.

FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram of a method 200 for folding or unfolding amonitor stand, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Method 200will be discussed with reference to monitor stand 100 shown in FIGS.1-7C.

At step 202, monitor stand 100 is unlocked to allow rotation of thecomponent of monitor stand 100. Monitor stand 100 is unlocked by raisingcap 116, thereby causing skirt plate 136 to be raised. Skirt plate 136is supported by spring 144 coupled to retainer 150 of lower column 112.Raising skirt plate 136 causes spring 144 to relax (at least in part),allowing skirt plate 136 to raise above lower retainer 146. Raisingskirt plate 136 thereby causes first lock pin 140 to raise out of itsspecific one of a plurality of lock holes of retainer 150. The one ofthe plurality of lock holes may be different when monitor stand 100 isin an open position and a closed position. In one embodiment, whenmonitor stand 100 is in an open position, the one of the plurality oflock holes is hole 156-D. In another embodiment, when monitor stand 100is in a closed position, the one of the plurality of lock holes is hole156-E.

In one embodiment, when monitor stand 100 is in the open position,raising skirt plate 136 causes second lock pin 142 to raise out of aparticular one of the plurality of lock holes of retainer 150. Theparticular one of the plurality of lock holes may be hole 158-C. Whenmonitor stand 100 is in the closed position, second lock pin 142 is notengaged any of the plurality of lock holes of retainer 150.

At step 204, first arm 106, second arm 108, and a first column (i.e.,upper column 110) are rotated around rotation axis 122 offset fromlongitudinal center axis 120 of the column to fold or unfold monitorstand 100 to an open or closed position. Rotation axis is 122 defined bytop offset bolt 130 and bottom offset bolt 152. The rotation of secondarm 108 is defined by track 164-A. In one embodiment, second arm 108rotates greater than 90 degrees and first arm 106 rotates greater than270 degrees. Lower column 112 does not rotate while folding monitorstand 100.

At step 206, monitor stand 100 is locked to prevent rotation of thecomponents of monitor stand 100. Monitor stand 100 is locked by loweringcap 116, thereby causing skirt plate 136 to lower and first lock pin 140(and second lock pin 142 when monitor stand 100 is in the open position)to lower into a different one of the plurality of lock holes to preventrotation of first arm 106, second arm 108, and upper column 110.

The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in everyrespect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scopeof the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from theDetailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpretedaccording to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to beunderstood that the embodiments shown and described herein are onlyillustrative of the principles of the present invention and that variousmodifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Those skilled inthe art could implement various other feature combinations withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention.

1. A monitor stand comprising: a first arm for coupling to a firstmonitor; a second arm for coupling to a second monitor; an upper columncoupled to the first and second arms; and a lower column supporting theupper column, wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the uppercolumn are configured to rotate around a rotation axis offset from alongitudinal center axis of the lower column to fold or unfold themonitor stand between an open position and a closed position.
 2. Themonitor stand of claim 1, wherein the second arm is further coupled to atrack of a retainer of the lower column, the rotation of the second armbeing defined by the track.
 3. The monitor stand of claim 1, the uppercolumn comprising: an upper retainer coupled to the second arm by a topoffset bolt; and a lower retainer coupled to the second arm by a bottomoffset bolt, wherein the top and bottom offset bolts define the rotationaxis.
 4. The monitor stand of claim 1, wherein: the monitor standcomprises a cap for covering the upper column; the upper columncomprises a skirt plate in physical communication with the cap andcoupled to a first lock pin; and the lower column comprises a retainerhaving a plurality of lock holes, wherein the cap is configured to belowered causing the skirt plate to be lowered to a lowered position, tothereby lower the first lock pin into a specific one of the lock holesof the retainer of the lower column and prevent the rotation of thefirst arm, the second arm, and the upper column.
 5. The monitor stand ofclaim 4, wherein: when the monitor stand is in the open position and theskirt plate is in the lowered position, a second lock pin coupled to theskirt plate is engaged with a particular one of the lock holes of theretainer of the lower column; and when the monitor stand is in theclosed position and the skirt plate is in the lowered position, thesecond lock pin is not engaged with any of the lock holes of theretainer of the lower column.
 6. The monitor stand of claim 4, whereinthe specific one of the lock holes is different when the monitor standis in the open position and the closed position.
 7. The monitor stand ofclaim 4, wherein the upper column further comprises: a link rod coupledto the cap at a first end and the skirt plate at a second end.
 8. Themonitor stand of claim 4, wherein the upper column further comprises: alower retainer coupled to a spring for supporting the skirt plate,wherein the skirt plate is configured to be lowered into the lowerretainer by compressing the spring.
 9. The monitor stand of claim 1,wherein the rotation of the second arm is greater than 90 degrees.
 10. Amonitor stand comprising: a first arm coupled to a first monitor; asecond arm coupled to a second monitor; a column coupled to the firstand second arms, wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the columnare configured to rotate around a rotation axis offset from alongitudinal center axis of the column to fold or unfold the monitorstand between an open position and a closed position.
 11. The monitorstand of claim 10, wherein the second arm is further coupled to a trackof a retainer, the rotation of the second arm being defined by thetrack.
 12. The monitor stand of claim 11, wherein: the monitor standcomprises a cap for covering the column; the column comprises a skirtplate in physical communication with the cap and coupled to a first lockpin; and the retainer comprises a plurality of lock holes, wherein thecap is configured to be lowered causing the skirt plate to be lowered,to thereby lower the first lock pin into a specific one of the lockholes of the retainer and prevent the rotation of the first arm, thesecond arm, and the column.
 13. The monitor stand of claim 12, whereinthe specific one of the lock holes is different when the monitor standis in the open position and the closed position.
 14. A method forfolding or unfolding a monitor stand, comprising: unlocking a monitorstand to allow rotation of the monitor stand; rotating a first arm, asecond arm, and a first column of a monitor stand around a rotation axisoffset from a longitudinal center axis of the first column; and lockingthe monitor stand to prevent rotation of the monitor stand.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein: the first column is a first upper column,the second arm is coupled to a track of a retainer of a second lowercolumn such that the rotation of the second arm is defined by the track.16. The method of claim 15, wherein unlocking a monitor stand comprises:raising a cap of the monitor stand thereby causing a skirt plate of thefirst upper column to raise, the skirt plate coupled to a first lockpin, wherein the causing the skirt plate to raise causes the first lockpin to raise out of a specific one of a plurality of lock holes of theretainer to allow rotation of the first arm, the second arm, and thefirst upper column.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein locking themonitor stand comprises: lowering a cap of the monitor stand therebycausing a skirt plate of the first upper column to lower, the skirtplate coupled to a first lock pin, wherein the causing the skirt plateto lower causes the first lock pin to lower into a specific one of aplurality of lock holes of the retainer to prevent rotation of the firstarm, the second arm, and the first upper column.
 18. The method of claim17, wherein: when the monitor stand is in an open position, causing theskirt plate to lower further causes a second lock pin coupled to theskirt plate to lower into a particular one of the plurality of lockholes of the retainer; and when the monitor stand is in a closedposition, causing the skirt plate to lower does not engage the secondlock pin with any of the plurality of lock holes of the retainer. 19.The method of claim 17, wherein the specific one of the plurality oflock holes is different when the monitor stand is in an open positionand a closed position.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein lowering acap of the monitor stand thereby causing a skirt plate of the firstupper column to lower comprises: lowering the skirt plate into a lowerretainer of the first upper column by compressing a spring supportingthe skirt plate.